Can-opener.



- No. 684,334. Patantod Oct. 8, 190i.

v E. D. WOODS.

CAN OPENER.

(Application Med Oct. 18, 1900.)

(lo Model.)

7 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

I can containing canned beef.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARI) D. \VOODS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAN -OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ratent No. 684,334., dated October s, 1961'. Application filed October 13', 1960. Serial No. saeo'. (No model.)

To all whom it Indy coiwcri't: v

Be it known that I, EDWARD D. WooDs, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My present invention relates to a novel construction of can-opener, and is designed to provide a can-opener that is applicable to a round can, which requires a concentric opening, and also to square or oblong shaped cans, such as beef or sardine cans. This canopener is also adapted to make a smooth even cut and does not leave a jagged or rough edge to injure the hands of the operator. The present construction is also designed to furnish a can-opener that provides a new and useful cutter for square or sharp cornered cans, that is easily manipulated, and that can cut as close to the edge as desired, which is a necessary quality. Take, for example, a

With the openers as heretofore made a cut is made under no circumstances less than a quarter-inch from the edge, and the remaining edge of the top after the cut is made is in the way of a ready removal of the contents, and where it is desired to slide out the beef or other material in a solid piece it presents an obstruction that causes the mutilation of the contents before they can be removed. I obviate this difliculty by means of this new can-opener and the out can be made on the extreme edge, or, if necessary, around the sides of the can at the top or just below the top edge.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side View of my new construction; and Figs. 2 and 3 are an end and top View, respectively. Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the knives of the canopener.

In said views, 1 is the shank of the device, and 2 is the usual form of piercing-point.

3 is a slot in the shank, in which is free to slide the blade 4 of a blade-holder 5, which embraces the shank 1 and is preferably made tip of two plates and'l. Said plates are held together and connected by rivets or pins, and the upper plate 6 is provided with a lip, which is bent down through the slot to forrri the blade 4,- as is evident from Fig. 2. This blade, however, may be secu red to the holder in any other well-known manner. On the shank 1, near the point 2 thereof, I have secured a cutter plate 8, which may be riveted or otherwise fastened and which is provided with a cutter or knife 9, which has a cutting edge 10 and also a feeding point or tooth 11. The end of the cutter 9 is pointed, as at 12, to facilitate the insertion of the cutter into the metal of the can, as will be understood.

The cutter 9 is ground on its face, so that when the tool is operated as it is intended to be-rl. 6., from left to right the smooth or rather the flat face will bear on the outer side of the cut and any metal thrown up by the bevel edge of the knife Will be on the portion to be removed and leave the edge of the cut on the can portion practically smooth.

The feeding-point or the fulcrum 11 is bent, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to be in line with the cutting edge of the knife 9, and thus allow of the out being made virtually on the extreme edge of the top. In previous constructions of can-openers the knife has been secured on the side of the fulcrum portion, which is usually made U-shaped and adapted to straddle the edge of the can, thereby throwing the knife at a distance from the edge, and consequently leaving as much of the top remaining as is embraced in the distance from the cutter to the fulcrum. In this design of cutter the fulcrum is in line with the cut, and where the fulcrum-pointis placed and the shank used as a lever there the cut is bound to follow, and if the point is fed around the edge of the top the knife will cut a clean cut on the extreme edge, orif the tool is placed horizontal on the sides of the can at the top the whole top can be removed intact, as will be evident. insure the removal of canned beef or other similar material without mangling the same in its extraction, as it will slide from the can without hindrance.

I have thus provided a tool that combines a circular and straight cut can-opener and may make minor changes in the details of con- As stated above, this will struction without departing from the scope of plates, a blade on said blade-holder project'- 7 W ing through said slot, said blade-holder being free to slide on the shank while a cut is being made, substantially as described.

my invention.

What I claim is- A can-opener, comprising a shank, a slot in said shank, a piercing-point on one end thereof, a cutter-plate on said shank, provided with a hook-shaped cutter, a nose acting as a fulcrum on said plate of the same thickness as the cutter and in line with its cutting edge, in combination with a sliding blade-holder embracing said shank, composed of two forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of October, 1900. r J

EDWARD D. WOODS.

Witnesses:

BYRON R. BACON, WM. H. OAMFIELD, Jr.

15 In testimony that I claim the invention set V 1' I 

